Glaucon, the older brother of Plato, in Plato's The Republic, c. 380 BCE
Traditionally, the April full moon is known as the Pink Moon because the grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Also known as Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and – among coastal tribes – the Full Fish Moon, when the shad come upstream to spawn.
The first full moon of spring, however, is also known as the Paschal Full Moon. Traditionally, Easter is observed on the Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon.
Every April I can see the moon dropping over downtown Miami as it shines into my bedroom at 5:00 A.M. It is impossible not to conjure up the song MOON OVER MIAMI when faced with this glorious lunar vision.
And while the lyrics do not reflect exact personal experiences of my subtropical oasis, it none-the-less is understandable why the sight provoked this romantic jazz ditty. . It was written in 1935 by Joe Burke and Edgar Leslie and recorded by many over the years: Glenn Miller, Ray Charles, Eddy Duchin, Vaughn Monroe and even Buddy Holly & the Comets.
Moon over Miami
Shine on my love and me
So we can stroll beside the roll
Of the rolling sea
Moon over Miami
Shine on as we begin
A dream or two that may come true
When the tide comes in
Hark to the song of the smiling troubadours
Hark to the throbbing guitars
Hear how the waves offer thunderous applause
After each song to the stars
Moon over Miami
You know we're waiting for
A little love, a little kiss
On Miami shore
Shine on my love and me
So we can stroll beside the roll
Of the rolling sea
Moon over Miami
Shine on as we begin
A dream or two that may come true
When the tide comes in
Hark to the song of the smiling troubadours
Hark to the throbbing guitars
Hear how the waves offer thunderous applause
After each song to the stars
Moon over Miami
You know we're waiting for
A little love, a little kiss
On Miami shore
Moon Over Miami was also a 1941 movie starring Betty Grable & Don Ameche about carhops looking for a rich husband. Not the deepest of premises, but consider the era.
Irene Sperber
Photos by Irene Sperber